Species are hypotheses: avoid connectivity assessments based on pillars of sand

Type Article
Date 2015-02
Language English
Author(s) Pante Eric1, Puillandre Nicolas2, Viricel Amélia1, Arnaud-Haond SophieORCID3, Aurelle Didier4, Castelin Magalie5, Chenuil Anne4, Destombe Christophe6, 7, Forcioli Didier8, 9, Valero Myriam6, 7, Viard Frederique6, 10, Samadi Sarah2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, France
2 : ISYEB – UMR 7205 – CNRS, MNHN, UPMC (University Paris 06), EPHE – Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Paris Cedex 05, France
3 : IFREMER, UMR 212 Ecosystèmes marins Exploités, Sète, France
4 : Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, IMBE UMR 7263, Marseille, France
5 : Aquatic Animal Health Section, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
6 : Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, University Paris 06, Roscoff, France
7 : CNRS, Laboratory Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Univ Paris 06, UMI 3614, UPMC, PUCCh, UACh, Roscoff, France
8 : Faculté des Sciences, Université Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, Equipe Symbiose Marine UMR 7138, Nice Cedex 2, France
9 : UMR 7138 Evolution Paris Seine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – CNRS, 7 Quai St Bernard, France
10 : Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratory Adaptation and Diversity in the Marine Environment, Team Diversity and Connectivity in Coastal Marine Landscapes, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
Source Molecular Ecology (0962-1083) (Wiley / Blackwell), 2015-02 , Vol. 24 , N. 3 , P. 525-544
DOI 10.1111/mec.13048
WOS© Times Cited 178
Keyword(s) connectivity, marine organisms, molecular systematics, taxonomy
Abstract Connectivity among populations determines the dynamics and evolution of populations, and its assessment is essential in ecology in general and in conservation biology in particular. The robust basis of any ecological study is the accurate delimitation of evolutionary units, such as populations, metapopulations and species. Yet a disconnect still persists between the work of taxonomists describing species as working hypotheses and the use of species delimitation by molecular ecologists interested in describing patterns of gene flow. This problem is particularly acute in the marine environment where the inventory of biodiversity is relatively delayed, while for the past two decades, molecular studies have shown a high prevalence of cryptic species. In this study, we illustrate, based on marine case studies, how the failure to recognize boundaries of evolutionary-relevant unit leads to heavily biased estimates of connectivity. We review the conceptual framework within which species delimitation can be formalized as falsifiable hypotheses and show how connectivity studies can feed integrative taxonomic work and vice versa. Finally, we suggest strategies for spatial, temporal and phylogenetic sampling to reduce the probability of inadequately delimiting evolutionary units when engaging in connectivity studies.
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Pante Eric, Puillandre Nicolas, Viricel Amélia, Arnaud-Haond Sophie, Aurelle Didier, Castelin Magalie, Chenuil Anne, Destombe Christophe, Forcioli Didier, Valero Myriam, Viard Frederique, Samadi Sarah (2015). Species are hypotheses: avoid connectivity assessments based on pillars of sand. Molecular Ecology, 24(3), 525-544. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13048 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00248/35952/